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Author
Topic: developing bipolar with hiv? (Read 2406 times)

OK, this is a little beyond my comfort zone, but i think that i am moderately bipolar.I've been reading alot about it lately and the descriptions hit home much more than i had expected.I took a few "online quizes" and tried to answer honestly.scored faily high. (moderate+)i know, a quiz online...i also read the thread here and on other sights in regards to the possible link with hiv and bipolar.just wonder if hiv could cause or aggravate being bipolar and it's symptoms.it feels like it more and more to me these past several years.

Hmmmmm interesting - I have just been through 2 psychiatric assessments and have been diagnosed with bi-polar.

Online tests can give you an indication (maybe) - but get yourself off to a psychiatrist to assess you appropriately.

Worse with HIV.... ? Dunno about that one. Comorbidity with other disorders/diseases such as drug dependance etc is statistically more prevalent with people diagnosed with bipolar I have just discovered... on a steep learning curve myself.

Risky behaviour associated with mania/hypomania (the high times) can lead to a higher chance of contracting STD's including our special bug HIV... thats about all I know at this stage.

All the best with your journey....

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Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist, While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water, I drank it! Sincerely, The Opportunist

it's strange. i think i've always been on the bipolar spectrum (my lows are much much more pronounced than my highs) but it's gotten worse since the diagnosis. that's lead to a lot of problems (drinking, risky behavior etc) but now i've decided to see what i can really do about it.have stopped the drinking (going to aa etc) and am going to give up smoking and other things. not so much esp with the smoking that it's a 'health issue' i just want to see what my mind is like without any outside mood altering influences so i can really assess, with professorial help, what's going on.it's scary, though, i understand,

OK, this is a little beyond my comfort zone, but i think that i am moderately bipolar.I've been reading alot about it lately and the descriptions hit home much more than i had expected.I took a few "online quizes" and tried to answer honestly.scored faily high. (moderate+)i know, a quiz online...i also read the thread here and on other sights in regards to the possible link with hiv and bipolar.just wonder if hiv could cause or aggravate being bipolar and it's symptoms.it feels like it more and more to me these past several years.

mitch

Do you have access to psychologist or psychiatrist who can evaluate you, using professional criteria? I think these conditions as well as these diagnosis are very technical and nuanced.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Do you have access to psychologist or psychiatrist who can evaluate you, using professional criteria? I think these conditions as well as these diagnosis are very technical and nuanced.

i agree.i am seeing a psychiatrist but have yet to bring this up.also, i believe at the time of my original post i was probably dealing more with depression.the correlation between hiv and bipolar does have some merit in any case and i would encourage anyone that believes that it may be an issue to seek professional help.it was a big step for me to seek help but it has given me more stability in my daily life.

Well by all means discuss such fears or suspicions with your therapist. Its ok to wander into self-diagnosis but we aren't trained to understand these things. A few times I have asked my therapist about this suspected issue or that one. Sometimes the answer is a flat out "no, not at all", and a clarification. A few times I have nailed something as yet un-addressed, and that has been good.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx